The Pilot Picasso: Turning Flight Tracks Into Works of Art

Arkansas aviator uses ForeFlight, precision flying, and a Cessna 182 RG to paint the sky.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Benjamin Glasgow McDaniel III, the self-named ‘Pilot Picasso,’ builds hours and creates artwork in the sky. Above is his breast cancer awareness ribbon. [Credit: Benjamin Glasgow McDaniel III]

Key Takeaways:

Pilot Benjamin Glasgow McDaniel III, known as "Pilot Picasso," creates intricate "sky art" by using his Cessna's flight path as a paintbrush to draw specific designs.
This unique aerial artwork is hand-flown under visual flight rules and meticulously planned on the ground to achieve precise shapes, differing from traditional smoke skywriting.
McDaniel's designs range from re-creations of famous art (e.g., Mona Lisa) to powerful positive messages like "You Are Loved" for suicide awareness, often aimed at bringing joy or making an impact.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Remember the first time you did laps in the pattern and couldn’t wait to see the track on the screen of your tablet at the end of the flight? If you flew well, you had a multilayered racetrack pattern of green.

Benjamin Glasgow McDaniel III, from Bentonville, Arkansas, has taken flight tracks to a higher level, using his G1000-equipped Cessna as a paintbrush to create specific designs as he flies.